Retracting type theater chair



Q6- 1949 l J. G. PROSSER ET AL 2,492,112

RETRACTING TYPE THEATER CHAIR:

Filed June 26, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS J'Bscph 6'.Prossev v Thomas FTPz-osser ATTORNEY Dec. 20, 1949 .J. G. PRossER ETAL 2,492,112

RETRACTING TYPE THEATER CHAIR Filed June 26, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS E8831; filk-oaaer i Ihomaa KPro-mev BY ATTORNEY I Patented Dec. 20, 1949 of New Jersey I wherein the occupant may move the seat rearmardly in order to permit others to pass in front I wlthouthis having to rise from the seat; fit provide such a chair having a link mechanism mounting the chair back and seat, which mcchanisminsures easy and comfortable forward Quil -outward movements and which is concealed wow the level of the chair seat; to provide such qt lphair which when retracted occupies a mini- I mutant space in the rear of the chair; to pro hide such a chair having improved means for mountingon spaced chair-supporting standards; in general to provide such a retracting chair hichis eflicient in operation, reasonably eco- Wmicalin manufacture and attractive in apnce. I I Illustrative embodiments of the invention are own in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

1 is a perspective view of a retracting [their showing the chair-seat and back in their normal, forward positions for occupancy;

Figure 2 is a perspective view similar to Figure I showing the chair seat and back in their retracted positions;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view lefthand side of the chair;

Figure 4 is an inside elevational view of the and operating mechanism at the left side oi the chair, certain parts being shown vertical section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3, thejmovable chair parts being shownin their ard positions; I "Figure 5 is an inside elevational view similar to Figure 4 and showing the movable chair parts in their rearward positions.

I Referring now in detail to these drawings and I referring first to Figures 1 through 5 in particupm. the retracting chair there shown is mounted a framecomprising spaced, upright, chairsupporting standards I having inwardly projecting lugs 2 thereon provided with vertical studreceiving slots 3, mounting members 4 having 5 putwardly turned flanges 5 with depending threaded studs 8 adapted to fit into the slots 3, utc 1 threaded on the lower ends of the studs I, and a transverse bar 8 secured as by welding the opposite mounting members. The frame UNITED \STATES PATENT OFFICE I oseph G.Prosser and Thomas W. Prosser, Pasa- I dena, Calif., assignors to American Seating Company, Grand Rapids, Mich 'a corporation I Application June 26, 1949, Serial No. 979,962

6Claims. (Cl. 155-116) thus formed is of sturdy and rigid construction. If desired, members 9 of rubber, cork or other resilient material may be interposed between the flanges 5 of the mounting members and the lugs 2 on the standards for absorbing any vibration of the chair during its retracting and returning movements.

The mounting and operating mechanisms on opposite sides of the chair being of like construction, only one side is shown in Figures 3-5 and hereinafter described. A pair of side plate supporting links comprises a front suporting link Iliand a rear supporting link I I which have their lower ends pivotally connected to the mounting member 4. A side plate I2 of generally triangular shape is pivotally connected at its lower for-. ward corner to the upper end of the front supporting link I0, and is pivotally connected in its rearward portion to the rear supporting link II slightly below the upper end of said link I I. The side plate I2 is thus mounted for forward-rearward movement with the supporting links, and for simultaneous turning or rocking movement.

A seat carrier I3 has its rearward portion pivotally connected to the lower rear corner of the side plate I2. The forward portion of the seat carrier I3 is supported by means of a curved seat supporting link I4 having its lower end pivotally connectedto a lug I 5 on the seat carrier I3, and having its upper rearward end pivotallynconnected to the upper end of the rear supporting link I I by means of a pin I 6 which as shown passes through an arcuate slot I I in the side plate I2 and which is freely movable insaid slot.

A chair back It is mounted on inwardly turned flanges I9 of theside plates I2 on opposite sides of the chair, as by means of screws 20. The chair seat 2I is shown rigidly secured to the seat carriers I 3 on opposite sides of the chair as by means of bolts or rivets 22, but the seat may if desired be mounted on said seat carriers turnably about a horizontal axis. I I

It will be seen that when the chair is retracted, the seat moves rearwardly in a substantially straight path, while the back moves rearwardly and also assumes a near-vertical position thus to minimize the space required for retraction in the rear of the chair. Rearward movement of the chair is stopped by contact of the rear supporting links II with rubber stops or bumpers 23 on the mounting members 4, while forward movement of the chair is stopped by the contact of said links II with similar stops or bumpers 24 on the mounting members 4.

An equalizing strut 25 is here shown secured as by welding to the rear supporting links H on opposite sides of the chair so that these links are rigidly secured in assembly and move in unison, thus adding to the stability of the structure.

It will thus be seen that a retracting chair has been provided having a novel combination of supporting links for the chair back and seat, in which the mounting and operating mechanism is located out of sight below the seat level, and which mechanism is arranged for easy and comfortable forward-rearward movements of the chair. While but several specific embodiments of the chair have been herein shown and .described, it will be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention as the same is defined by the following claims, wherein the word frame is to be construed broadly enough to include either a unitary assembly or a pair of spaced chair standards whose only rigid connection is the floor upon which such pair of standards is installed.

We claim:

1. In a chair, a frame, front and rear supporting links having their lower ends pivotally connected to the frame, a chair back connected to the upper ends of said supporting links and movable forwardly and rearwardly therewith, a

chair seat having its rearward portion connected to the chair back, a seat supporting link connected to the forward portion of the seat and to a rear supporting link for supporting the forward portion of the seat, and stop means for limiting the forward and rearward movements of the supporting links.

2. In a chair, a frame, front and rear supporting links having their lower ends pivotally connected to the frame, side plates mounted on the upper ends of the supporting links for forward and rearward movements with said links, a chair back mounted on the side plates, a chair seat pivotally connected at its rear to the chair back, a seat supporting link connected to the forward portion of the seat and to a rear supporting link for supporting the forward portion of the seat, and stop means for limiting the forward'and rearward movements of the sideplates.

3. In a chair, a frame, front and rear .sup porting links having their lower ends pivotally connected to the frame thus forming pairs of links on opposite sides of the chair, side plates having pivotal connections with the upper ends of the links in said pairs respectively, a chair back mounted on the side plates, a chair seat pivotally connected at its rear to the chair back, a seat-supporting link connected to the forward portion of the seat and with a rear supporting link for supporting the forward portion of the seat, and stop means for limiting the forward and rearward mov ments of the side pla s- 4. In a chair, a frame, front and rear supporting links having their lower ends pivotally connected to the frame thus forming pairs of links on opposite sides of the chair, side plates having pivotal connections with the upper ends of the forward links in said pairs respectively and pivotal connections with the corresponding rearward links below the upper ends thereof, a chair back mounted on the side plates, a chair seat pivotally connected at its rear to the side plates,

seat-supporting links connected to the forward portion of the seat and to the upper ends of the rear supporting links for supporting the forward portion of the seat, and stop means for limiting the forward and rearward movements of the side plates.

5. In a chair, spaced upright chair-supporting standards, mounting members attached to the standards, front and rear supporting links having their lower ends pivotally connected to the mounting members, a chair back connected to the upper ends of said supporting links and movable forwardly and rearwardly therewith, a chair seat having its rearward portion connected to the chair back, a seat supporting link connected to the forward portion of the seat and to a rear supporting link for supporting the forward portion of the seat, and stop means for limiting the forward and rearward movements of the supporting links.

6. In a chair, spaced upright chair supporting standards, mounting members attached to the standards, front and rear supporting links having their lower ends pivotally connected to the mounting members thus forming pairs of links on opposite sides of the chair, side plates having pivotal connections with the upper ends of the forward links in said pairs respectively and pivotal connections with the corresponding rearward links below the upper ends thereof, a chair back mounted on the side plates, a chair seat pivotally connected at its rear to the side plates, seat supporting links connected to the forward portion of the seat and to the upper ends of the rear supporting links for supporting the forward portion of the seat, and stop means for limiting the forward and rearward movements of the side plates.

JOSEPH G. PROSSER, THOMAS W. PROSSER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,176,221 Kerbel Mar. 21, 19m. 1,929,971 Fredrickson Oct. 10, 1933 2,336,031 Orton Dec. 7, 19.43 

